The Student Nursing Association of Cerritos College provided information on hypertension, stress, sex education, nutrition and cholesterol on Feb. 20 in Falcon Square.

Among the more than 40 students from the SNACC like Jennifer Gutierrez, nursing major, the reason for the event itself was to educate students about nutrition. One of the health issues discussed was the amount of water a person should drink in a day.

“The amount should be between eight to 10 glasses of water a day,” she explained, “but students don’t realize the importance of it.”

In addition, the issue of nutrition would also help students understand how to read food labels on the products a person buys with the inclusion of exercise.

“If someone doesn’t exercise, it could lead to cardiovascular and kidney disease.”

One of the things that Gutierrez explained was that fruits and vegetables need to be added to a person’s diet.

While the importance of nutrition was addressed, hypertension was also another subject of concern.

Nancy Ortiz, nursing major, commented that students had questions about what hypertension is and provided handouts for those who were looking for information.

Hypertension is the elevation of high blood pressure that is highly diagnosed in women, explained Ortiz, but it is also a silent killer.

The reason behind having the event on campus was not only because it’s national “Healthy Heart Month” but SNACC president Michael Burk said that he wanted to promote the program because he feels it provides good teaching with the help of Cerritos College.

Students had mixed reactions to the event itself. One of the booths that interested Stephanie Duran, undecided major, was the one about sex education.

“It’s important because I wanted to find out what would happen to my body if I had a sexually transmitted disease.”

Cesar Dorame, medical science major, said that he was more concerned over the Iraq war but that although it was on his mind, weight gain was just as important to him.

“Seeing this event made me aware of my health because I had not thought about it before and with the information I have I will learn more about taking care of myself.”

As a demonstration of safe sex, Fidel Serrano, nursing major, demonstrated the proper way to put on a condom.

Students interested in the information is what SNACC adviser Peggy Stuart hoped that would happen during the event. “From the students who help out I see that the nursing students are enjoying the information that they are providing because it is important.”